Friends Of The National World War Ii Memorial Inc

Commemorative:in cooperation with the national park service, friends has the lead responsibility in planning, staging, and funding five major national commemorative events at the world war ii memorial on ve day, memorial day, vj day, veterans day, and pearl harbor remembrance day. In addition, friends annually hosts a d-day commemoration. The 2024 commemorations included a special ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the world war ii memorial and special programs marking the 80th anniversaries of the battle of normandy and the battle of the bulge. As part of the 80th commemorations, names of all those killed during those battles were read by volunteers at the newly restored circle of remembrance, next to the newly installed fdr d-day prayer. The ceremonies are free and open to the public.friends presented the 2024 brigadier general charles e. Mcgee unity award to congresswoman kaptur, the longest-serving woman in congressional history, for her unwavering commitment to establishing the world war ii memorial on the national mall and her continued efforts to preserve the national memory of world war ii. The annual award is named for the late retired air force brigadier general charles e. Mcgee, who embodied and lived by the highest american ideals during his 102-years. The unity award is a significant recognition of an individual or group actively working for the betterment of their community and beyond and for living up to the moral integrity espoused by general mcgee and his fellow members of the "greatest generation".

Legacy lecture:on november 13th, friends held the twelfth annual haydn williams world war ii memorial legacy lecture at the national defense university. Wwii historian and author john c. Mcmanus delivered a lecture, titled to the end of the earth: the u.s. Army and the downfall of japan, which explored the cost of victory over japan and the long-term legacies that still resonate today. The haydn williams world war ii memorial legacy lecture is an annual public lecture series that features preeminent historians and other experts speaking on the lasting significance and impact of world war ii on america and the world.this program is supported by the haydn williams world war ii memorial legacy lecture seriesendowment.